Crystal River current., 1887-04-09
THE OWNER OF REST VALLEY.
Curious Life History Of An Ex-Con.
gressman's Daughter.

CURIOUS 1LlIc-hlotOEv O1 IN E1SC0uS
gressman's Daughter.
The last and strangest chapter in all
the career OF the late Mrs. Lizzie H.
Monmouth, who died recently in this
town, has just come to light, writes a
Canterbury, N. H., correspondent Of
The Boston journal. As is we'll known.
she was the daughter of the late ex-
Congressman Harper. the widow of
Col. Monmouth. of Texas, an author of
ability, and an eccentric person gener-
ally. She was best known to the pub
lie in her later years by her public SER
vices in the Worsted church, at Hills
corner. near the Shaker village, and
through the quaintness of her artistic
home, known as Rest Valley, in the
center of the town. Years ago she
gave out that she had lost through a
Clergyman to whom she confined her
business affairs nearly all of hand
some property which she had inherited
from her father. She managed, how
ever, to retain her humble home and a
wood lot of a few acres. Then she be-
gan what she called her struggle with
poverty. Persons who had known her
in prosperity felt a great interest in
her, and gave her food and clothing
generously. For years she lived in a
chamber, refusing to see or speak to
anyone excepting to few intimate
friends. She remarked to neighbor
that if the public did not wish her to
starve she would accept any offerings
of provisions that might be rendered.
Her way of receiving gifts was as fol-
lows: She would, unseen, let down a
rope from her chamber window.
and when persons brought her persents
they would attach them to the end of
the line. and after their departure Mrs.
Monmouth would lift by the rope into
her chamber what had been deposited
for her outside.
She kept along in this way for con-
siderable tine, her friends and what few
relatives she had being anxious that
she should not become public charge.
She wrote a pamphlet. that friend got
published for her. entitled Living on
Half Dime Day. IN which she re-
lated that there had been times in
which she had lived with daily ex-
pense for food of only 5 cents. She
wrote that she was "a woman with
broken health and broken fortune" At
leangth she conceived the idea of decor
ating her house with paper ornamental
tions and notices, and by much skill
and labor she made her home SO
wonderfully attractive that it became
famous with the public. especially with
many summer visitors from Boston
and vicinity. Through the efforts of
the latter numerous Boston merchants
sent Mrs. Monmouth as gifts large
packages of sample wall papers and
odd window shades. She charged q
small admittance to examine her house.
which in the warm season would bring
her some ready money. Finally age
and disease untitled her to take care
of herself. and a few months ago a
kind neighbor. carried her to the house
of niece in London, where she had
the kindest of care, but died soon
afterward.
The strange part of hcr history lies
in the fact that will which has been
found and probated proves that instead
of being in poverty she left a handsome
property. She bequeaths to one rela-
tive 81 900 to several others $500 apiece,
to still more smaller sums, and to the
Women's Benevolent society connect
ed with thc.Baptist church in Canter-
bury 5000. Her home and wood lot
also 20 to relatives, and what is re-
markable, property sufficient is found
to meet all her bequets. and. as a
gentleman from Canterbury remarked
to-day, I'VE don't know how much
more will turn up